Soccer training target, method for practicing kicking using same, and method for advertising using same

ABSTRACT

The subject matter described herein includes a soccer training target, a method for practicing kicking using same, and a method for advertising using same. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a soccer training target is provided. The soccer training device includes a target panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and a hole for hanging the target panel from a soccer net, the target panel comprising a rigid member. At least one visual target is located on the target panel, where the target panel is configured to receive impact from soccer balls during kicking practice. An attachment device is insertable into the at least one hole for hanging the target panel from the soccer net.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to soccer training devices,methods for using such devices to practice kicking, and methods foradvertising using such devices. More particularly, the subject matterdescribed herein relates to a soccer training target, and a method forpracticing kicking using same, and a method for advertising using same.

BACKGROUND

In different sports, aiming and focusing on a target is often criticalsuccess. For example, in soccer, in order to successfully kick a ballinto the goal, a soccer player may visually focus on a portion of thesoccer net inside the goal before kicking the ball in order to preventthe goalkeeper from blocking the shot. For example, soccer players oftenfocus shots on a particular portion of the net in order to kick thesoccer ball in a desired direction. By aiming and focusing on a portionof the goal, rather than the entire goal, the player increases his orher chances of scoring a goal.

Current soccer training targets are of various types. For example, manydevices attach to the frame of the soccer goal. However, such deviceslack one or more desirable features, such as a visual target located atthe back of the goal on which a soccer player can focus and a designwhich is ergonomic, easily portable, and suitable for branding.

Yet another problem in the area of advertising is finding new ways toadvertise to desirable advertising targets. Soccer players typicallyrepresent an important, youthful, and athletic advertising market.Accordingly, entities may desire to market products, services, events orthe entities themselves to soccer players, for example at soccer games.It is common practice at soccer games to distribute soccer relatedproducts that are branded with company logos. For example, hats or otherarticles of clothing or soccer balls may be branded with company logos.However, each of these products are disposable and have limited usefullives. Accordingly, there exists a need for new ways to market aproduct, a service, an entity, or an event to soccer players.

In light of these difficulties, there exists a long felt need for asoccer training target, a method for practicing kicking using same, anda method for advertising using same.

SUMMARY

The subject matter described herein includes a soccer training target, amethod for practicing kicking a soccer ball using same, and a method foradvertising using same.

According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a soccertraining target is provided. The soccer training device includes atarget panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and a hole forhanging the target panel from a soccer net, the target panel comprisinga rigid member. At least one visual target is located on the targetpanel, where the target panel is configured to receive impact fromsoccer balls during kicking practice. An attachment device is insertableinto the at least one hole for hanging the target panel from the soccernet.

According to yet another aspect, the subject matter described hereinincludes a method for advertising at least one of an entity, a product,a service or an event to soccer players. The method includes placing alogo for an entity, a product, a service, or an event on each of aplurality of soccer training targets, where each soccer training targetcomprises target panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and ahole for hanging the target panel from a soccer net, the target panelcomprising a rigid member. There also being a visual target on thetarget panel for providing a soccer player with an area of visual focusand being configured to receive impact from soccer balls during kickingpractice and. The method further includes distributing the soccertraining targets with the logos to soccer players.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the subject matter described herein will now beexplained with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a soccer training target according to anembodiment of the subject matter described herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a soccer training target according to anembodiment of the subject matter described herein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a soccer field including a soccer goalincluding a soccer training target according to an embodiment of thesubject matter described herein; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for kicking asoccer ball using a soccer training target according to an embodiment ofthe subject matter described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter described herein includes a soccer training target, amethod for practicing kicking using same, and a method for advertisingusing same.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a soccer training target according to anembodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to FIG. 1,soccer training target 100 includes a target panel 102 having a frontsurface, a rear surface, and holes 104 penetrating target panel 102 forhanging target panel 100 from a soccer net. Target panel 102 comprises arigid member so that when struck with a soccer ball during kickingpractice, a successful kick may be indicated by the rebound of the ballfrom the rigid target panel and/or the sound made by the impact of thesoccer ball on the target panel. An attachment device 106 may beinserted into holes 104 for attaching target panel 102 to a soccer net.Additionally, target panel 102 may include a visual target for providinga soccer player with an area of visual focus. In the illustratedexample, visual target 108 comprises the number “2” located on the frontsurface of target panel 102. However, any suitable visual target may beused. For example, visual target 108 may be a logo for an entity,product, service, or event where soccer training target 102 is used foradvertising purposes. In addition, visual target 108 may be painted ontarget panel 102, etched in target panel 102, or adhered to target panel102, in the case of a decal. Thus, visual target 108 may be any of atleast two dimensions on which a soccer player can focus during kickingpractice. It is further appreciated that visual target 108 may belocated on either the front or rear surface of target panel 102, or mayinclude multiple visual targets 108 on the same surface withoutdeparting from the scope of the subject matter described herein.

Target panel 100 may be made of any suitable material. Desirablecharacteristics of such a material are rigidity, low manufacturingcosts, durability, and the ability to withstand impact from a soccerball. For example, it is desirable for a soccer ball to impact targetpanel 102 under a variety of temperatures and weather conditions withoutcracking or breaking. Exemplary material suitable for use as targetpanel 102 includes a plastic material, such as polyvinylchloride.

Although in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, target panel 102 is acircular disc, the subject matter described herein is not limited toproviding a circular disc-shaped target panel 102. In one embodiment,target panel 102 may have a front surface having a surface areasubstantially equal to an area encompassed by a great circle of a soccerball, where the great circle is the circle described by the intersectionof the surface of the soccer ball with a plane passing through thecenter of the soccer ball. Thus, for example, a regulation-sized soccerball may have a circumference of approximately 27 inches, and targetpanel 102 may therefore encompass an area substantially equal to thatencompassed by the 27 inch great circle associated with the soccer ball.Additionally, target panel 102 may include any number of straight edges,angles, or compound curves without departing from the scope of thesubject matter described herein. In addition, as described above,although in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, only a single visualtarget 108 is illustrated, multiple visual targets 108 may be located ontarget panel 102. For example, training target 100 may include twovisual targets located on opposite sides of target panel 102 to providecontrasting visual targets for a soccer player during kicking practice.

Attachment device 106 may include any suitable means for attachingtarget panel 102 to a soccer net. For example, attachment device 106 mayinclude a loop of string or wire, a hook, a fastener, or a clamp forinserting into holes 104 and around at least a portion of a soccer net.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, attachment device 106 includesa single loop of string, which may be composed of a flexible and durablesynthetic fiber material similar to the material used in a soccer net.Such material compatibility helps ensure that during soccer kickingpractice, the repeated impact of soccer balls on target 100 and theresulting movement of target 100 does not cut or otherwise damage thesoccer net to which target 100 is attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a soccer training target according to anembodiment of the subject matter described herein. In FIG. 2, targetpanel 102 is substantially flat for receiving a visual target 108,which, in the illustrated example, is the number “2,” however, anysuitable logo may be placed on target panel 102 to market a product, aservice, an entity, or an event to soccer players at a soccer event. Inone embodiment, target panel 102 may be approximately 14 of one inchthick in order to be lightweight and highly portable, yet durable enoughto receive impact from soccer balls during kicking practice. Anexemplary method for marketing a product, a service, an entity, or anevent to soccer players at a soccer event will be described in moredetail below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a soccer field including a soccer goalincluding a soccer training target according to an embodiment of thesubject matter described herein. For example, training target 100 may belocated inside a soccer net 300 for being struck by a soccer ball 304kicked by soccer player 302. In order to use training target 100 forpracticing kicking a soccer ball, soccer player 302 may attach trainingtarget 100 to a soccer net via attachment device 106. Soccer player 302may then kick a soccer ball 304 towards training target 100 by visuallyfocusing on target 108, adjusting the angle of his foot based on thedirection of focus, returning to focus on the ball, and then completingthe kick by impacting the ball with the foot so that the ball travels inthe direction of focus of target 108. When soccer player 302 completeskicking practice, soccer player 302 can easily detach training target100 from soccer net 300 and store it for future practice. Thus, thesimplicity and lightweight design of training target 100 provides aflexible design that increases the portability of training target 100.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of exemplary steps for practicing kicking asoccer ball using a soccer training target according to an embodiment ofthe subject matter described herein. Referring to FIG. 4, in block 400,a target panel is placed on a soccer net of a soccer goal. For example,training target 100 may be attached to a soccer net via attachmentdevice 106. A soccer player may then focus on visual located on targetpanel 102 and kick a soccer ball in the direction of the focusing.

As stated above, a soccer training target may be used to market aproduct, a service, an entity or event to soccer players. For example, alogo for an entity, a product, a service, or an event is placed on eachof a plurality of soccer training targets, each target panel 102 havinga front surface, a rear surface, and holes 104 penetrating the front andrear surfaces for hanging target panel 100 from a soccer net, the targetpanel comprising a rigid member. An attachment device 106 may beinserted into holes 104 for attaching target panel 102 to a soccer net.Target panel 102 may include a visual target on the front surface andthe front surface being configured to receive impact from soccer ballsduring kicking practice. The logo may be a company logo, a college oruniversity logo, a sports organization or team logo, a product orservice logo, a geographic logo, an event logo, etc. The logo may beplaced on either surface of member 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 above.

The soccer training target may then be distributed to soccer players.Distributing the soccer training target to soccer players may includedistributing the device to soccer players through any suitabledistribution channel. For example, the soccer training target may bedistributed at registration for a soccer event without charge to soccerplayers. Distributing the device without charge means that substantiallyall of the soccer players in the soccer event will receive a soccertraining target and will likely keep the soccer training target. Inaddition, unlike disposable media, such as soccer balls or articles ofclothing that can be branded with a logo at a soccer event, a soccertraining target is more likely to be kept by a soccer player andrepeatedly used for kicking practice. In another example, a university,a sports team, or other organization may sell soccer training targetsbranded with their respective logos over the Internet or in a brick andmortar retail store.

It will be understood that various details of the presently disclosedsubject matter may be changed without departing from the scope of thepresently disclosed subject matter. Furthermore, the foregoingdescription is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for thepurpose of limitation.

1. A soccer training target comprising: a target panel having a frontsurface, a rear surface, and including at least one hole for hanging thetarget panel from a soccer net, the target panel comprising a rigidmember; at least one visual target on the target panel and the targetpanel being configured to receive impact from a soccer ball duringkicking practice; and an attachment device being insertable into the atleast one hole for hanging the target panel from the soccer net.
 2. Thesoccer training target of claim 1 wherein the target panel includes acircular disc.
 3. The soccer training target of claim 1 wherein thetarget panel includes a single hole located in an upper center portionof the target panel.
 4. The soccer training target of claim 1 whereinthe target panel includes two holes symmetrically located in upper-rightand upper-left portions of the target panel.
 5. The soccer trainingtarget of claim 1 wherein the target panel includes four holessymmetrically located in each quadrant of the target panel.
 6. Thesoccer training target of claim 1 wherein the target panel includes asingle visual target centrally located on the front surface of thetarget panel.
 7. The soccer training target of claim 1 wherein thetarget panel includes a visual target centrally located on each of thefront and rear surfaces of the target panel.
 8. The soccer trainingtarget of claim 1 wherein the target panel includes multiple visualtargets on at least one surface of the target panel.
 9. The soccertraining target of claim 1 wherein the attachment device includes one ofa loop of string, a loop of wire, a hook, and a clamp.
 10. The soccertraining target of claim 1 wherein the front surface of the target panelhas a surface area substantially equal to an area encompassed by a greatcircle of the soccer ball.
 11. A method for practicing kicking a soccerball, the method comprising: placing, on a soccer net, a target panelhaving a front surface, a rear surface, and including at least one holefor hanging the target panel from a soccer net, the target panelcomprising a rigid member, at least one visual target on the targetpanel and the target panel being configured to receive impact from asoccer ball during kicking practice, and an attachment device beinginsertable into the at least one hole for hanging the target panel fromthe soccer net; and visually focusing on the visual target and kicking asoccer ball at the target panel in a direction corresponding to thefocusing.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the target panel onthe soccer net includes placing a circular disc on the soccer net. 13.The method of claim 11 wherein placing the target panel on the soccernet includes placing a target panel including a single hole located inan upper center portion of the target panel.
 14. The method of claim 11wherein placing the target panel on the soccer net includes placing atarget panel including two holes symmetrically located in upper-rightand upper-left portions of the target panel.
 15. The method of claim 11wherein placing the target panel on the soccer net includes placing atarget panel including four holes symmetrically located in each quadrantof the target panel.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein placing thetarget panel on the soccer net includes placing a target panel includinga single visual target centrally located on the front surface of thetarget panel.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the targetpanel on the soccer net includes placing a target panel including avisual target centrally located on each of the front and rear surfacesof the target panel.
 18. The method of claim 11 wherein placing thetarget panel on the soccer net includes placing a target panel includingmultiple visual targets on at least one surface of the target panel. 19.The method of claim 11 wherein placing the target panel on the soccernet includes attaching the target panel using one of a loop of string, aloop of wire, a hook, and a clamp.
 20. The method of claim 11 whereinplacing the target panel on the soccer net includes placing a targetpanel having a front surface having a surface area substantially equalto an area encompassed by a great circle of the soccer ball.
 21. Amethod of advertising at least one of an entity, a product, a service,or an event to soccer players, the method comprising: placing logos foran entity, a product, a service, or an event on each of a plurality ofsoccer training targets, each training target comprising: a target panelhaving a front surface, a rear surface, and including at least one holefor hanging the target panel from a soccer net, the target panelcomprising a rigid member; at least one visual target on the targetpanel and the target panel being configured to receive impact from asoccer ball during kicking practice; and an attachment device beinginsertable into the at least one hole for hanging the target panel fromthe soccer net; and distributing a plurality of the soccer trainingtargets having the logos to soccer players.